Cornwall Council officers have said that delivering more housing than required will prevent “inappropriate” developments.

Latest figures show that Cornwall has delivered 133% of the homes required compared to its target and so has passed the “housing delivery test”.

Cornwall Council had a target to deliver 7,263 homes between 2017 and 2020 but has actually delivered 9,639.

Countryside charity the CPRE criticised the council for going over its target saying that it was damaging habitats and countryside and going against the council’s declaration of a climate emergency.

However in a report due to councillors next week the council says that by meeting the targets the council would have more control over what housing developments would be permitted.

The council’s economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee will consider the report when it meets on Tuesday (March9).

It explains that if local authorities cannot show that they have a five-year supply of land suitable for housing they can find themselves in a weak position when planning applications are submitted.

If the council did not have a land supply then when planning decisions are made on housing developments the council would have to apply weight for the need to provide land for housing.

The report explains: “The effect of this is to make it very difficult for a local authority to refuse applications for housing development.”

However as Cornwall Council can demonstrate 6.5 years supply of land suitable for housing it puts it in a stronger position when considering planning applications for housing.

In the report it states that “officers are confident that our five year land supply position is sufficiently strong for us to resist proposals for new housing which are in inappropriate locations or do not meet the requirements of our policy framework”.

Council officers also explain that when looking at the longer term forecast for housing delivery Cornwall is expected to exceed its target.

The council has identified supply of land for new homes which will provide 33,194 homes between 2020 and 2030.

Additionally the council’s monitoring shows that since 2010 there have been 23,636 new homes built in Cornwall.

By the end of the term of the current Cornwall Local Plan it is predicted that 59,830 homes will be built against a target of 52,530.

However it is highlighted that the figures are only estimates and while planning permission could be granted for the homes some may not actually be built.

The economic growth and development overview and scrutiny committee will meet on Tuesday (March9) to consider the report.